Monday, July 28, 2008

Who are you?

I think I have lurkers. I lurk too. Don't be ashamed. Just tell me who you are - you can email if you want.
I'd like to know who is out there. I've been coming out of hiding on other people's blogs. It's fun! Almost as much fun as my coffee with it's hazelnut biscotti creamer. Yessirree. or maybe not if you don't drink coffee.

And I promise to do much better about updating. Heck, I'm lightyears ahead of last year's ramblings. :)

Have a great day and don't forget to tell me you stopped by for a visit!

Tracey

Monday, July 21, 2008

This is for me and it's for you!

This blog is for me and it is for you. I have struggled with a lot of different things bombarding my mind daily. A few of you even know that I've not gotten more than a few hours of sleep at night during the last month. Coffee is something I'm rediscovering in the last few weeks. In high school and the college I truly loved, it was my fuel. It fired me.It is helping me press on some days when I don't think I can go. And when the coffee doesn't help and even when it does, God is behind all of it, pushing me forward again.

But, I digress... Coffee. Sounds good, but it is almost 4 a.m. and I've been up since 11 a.m. yesterday. An hour of nap got sandwiched in with Julia Grace.

What is keeping me awake? Who knows? God knows. I know. You know. A few of you out there are having the sleepless nights too. You're wondering how you can go forward too. I can't answer all of it. I'm sorry these things are happening right now. I wish I could fix it for you. How I wish I could, but I can be here and God is there for you.

This didn't make sense to a lot of you. It made perfect sense to me. It will make sense to some others too. I love you all. God bless you!

This is the song that has moved me so in recent weeks. I hope it's something you all can enjoy.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Busy, Busy, Busy

I'm trying to think just what has kept us so busy. I guess there really have been a lot of things and people that have occupied our time.



Mallory went to Vacation Bible School at 2 local churches this summer. Our church is having a missions camp this week that she is supposed to attend as well before some dance camps to round out her summer. We've been to Chuck E Cheese with Jayne and her boys and to ChickfilA for chicken and playground time with Sarah and Cori after VBS. Jayne left us at Chuck E Cheese for a doctor's appointment (with all 4 boys) and wasn't able to come back - they put her in the hospital until boy #5 arrived! She didn't have to wait long - he was born the next morning before any of us were hardly awake! So we had Austin, Walker, Noah, Riley, Mallory and Julia Grace all over at Nana & Papa's later that evening playing ball and the Wii. We called to ask if we could bring home a small basketball team after explaining the situation. And of course, Mallory, in all her knowledge said, you know Tracey, a WHOLE basketball team playing is only 8 and we have that if we include you and daddy. Thanks, Mallory. :)



Julia Grace has been to Kindermusik camps. It was a little trying at first - she's not around a whole lot of children that she has to share things with at the moment. We go out for MOMS playdates and whatnot, but not where you have the really shiny, clangy instruments you only get to hold for a few moments before passing them on to others. The first day was a nightmare - I was horrified and embarrassed that Julia Grace threw such fits. Tracy even asked me if they offered me my money and said don't come back! But as the weeks went on, she gave things over to the next person not only willingly, but wanted to help put things away too! I think the Kindermusik program is something we may continue to do in the fall. Julia Grace also is going to Gymboree play classes as well and in July we're going to go to the art classes for 4 weeks to try them out in place of some makeup play classes. I'll let you know if she eats the art supplies - that's been my worry about signing her up for that one!



Jayne has been back over to visit with her newborn, Greyson Alexander, and Riley. Julia Grace has enjoyed the playtime with Riley - they understand each other's language that's for sure. They babble and laugh and you have no clue what they just did or said, but it's funny to them! We'll miss them when they go back home to Canada. Riley won't be back until Christmas!



We also went to Lynchburg, VA for Tracy's cousin Will's wedding. We got to see some family we don't get to see that often and meet lots of new people. I haven't mapped it but I think that's the farthest Tracy, Mallory and I have travelled away. I'm not sure though - we went to Jacksonville, Florida in 2004 to visit some friends. It definitely was Julia Grace's longest road trip. And now that I think about it, I am not sure I personally took a single picture all weekend. Nana and Papa have some - they braved Mallory and our cousin Adrienne (4 next week) in the same hotel room! Papa and Tracy took Mallory, Julia Grace, and Adrienne swimming shortly after check-in at the hotel.



And looking about, I see there is so much I want for us to go do - facebook has really put me back in touch with some folks I've not seen in a while. And some of you guys have been up to some really fantastic things and made many travels. One of you is travelling now - Jed!- on a trip that I am certainly envious of you guys making!

It's neat to see everyone's travels and what they've been up to this summer. I'll post a few pics to show what we've been up to - it's hard to believe school starts again in a month! Yikes!

Look for pics later on this evening!

Tracey